Machine for finishing wool boots



(No Model.)

O. H. WOODBURY. MACHINE POR FINISHING WOOL BOOTS.

No. 532,352. Patented Jan. 8,1895..

= UNITED f STATES lPrV'rENT OFFICE.

another part of my machine.

CHARLES H. WOODBURY, MISHAVAKA, INDIANA.

MACHINE FOR FINISHING WOOL BOOTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iietters Patent No. 532,352, dated January8, 1895.

Application filed January 21,1 893. Serial No. 45 9,039. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 'Y

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. WOOD- BURY, of Mishawaka, in the countyof St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Machines for Finishing Wool Boots; and I declare that thefollowing is a full and accurate description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, wherein* Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of a wool boot. Fig.2 is a perspective view of myma-` chine. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a part of my machine. Fig. 4 is atransverse section of Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification.

There are two modes of making wool-boots. First, the boot is made ofwool bats roughly shaped in the form of a gigantic boot, or, sec' `ond,by knitting coarse loosely twisted yarn,

in the form of agigantic stocking. In either case the product is' feltedand shrunk to proper size in scalding water, and then shaped and driedon a tree. The process of felting causes the fibers to shrink andinterlock with one another in the peculiar well known manner, and theresulting surface is irregular and hard.

To improve the appearance of the surface and to add to the warmth of theboot, it has been customary, on the outersurface to draw -the fibers outto form a napyor to grind it away on a pouncing` machine to render itsmooth. For the purposes for which boot-s are used the napping processis preferable,`

provement, I will particularly describe the apparatus as I haveconstructed and used it, not intending however to limit myself preciselyas to its several details.

A, is the framework which supports the operative parts of my machine.For convenclothing.

side, for the brush B.

ience I mount upon the same frame two nappers B, C, the former for theleg portion and the latter for the foot portion of the boot. The nappermight be adapted to unite both functions, but it is more convenient andde sirable to employ separate instruments. The napper consists of acylinder 'or a cone covered with what is known as napping wire Thisconsists of line hard drawn wire bent in the form of staples, forcedthrough a foundation of stout fabric, leather or other flexiblematerial, the ends of the wire staples being protruded at right anglesfrom the said foundation. For my purposes, this clothing is prepared ina long narrow strip which being wound spirally upon a cylinder causesthe wire to stand out radially and constitute a cylindrical brush. Forthe conical end'or napper C, adapted to enter the foot, it is necessaryto fashion a helical pyramidal head K, upon which the clothing strip Qmay be wound without buckle or kink.

lt will be apparent that the cylindric or conical napping brush may bemade by Wrapping `a properly sized rectangular or conical piece ofclothing around a proper'cylinder or cone` as the case may be, but it isequally manifest that the mode described above is much more simple andeffective.

The diameter of the cylindrical brush must be considerably less than theinterior diameter of the boot leg R'to permit it to be inserted readily,and it is'also necessary that it shall be covered with a shield at allpoints 'except on a line along one side, because it would be impracticalto submit the boot to all sides of the card at once. Itherefore providea cylindrical shield D, open along one This brush and shield aresufiiciently long to reach into the heel of the boot, and to operate it.The boot leg is slipped over the shield, and pressed lightly down uponthe napping brush. The teeth penetrate the surface slightly and comb upthe surface fibers. This action of I the brush wires will cause the bootto rotate and thus present all portions of the interior surface to thebrush for treatment. To relieve the attendant of the duty ofsuperintending this action all the time I have employed two or morerollers E, E, which restv upon the boot and press it down upon thenapping brush IOO vvith proper pressurewvhile the brush is actthe bootor downward to pressupon the same.

The conical napper or brush C, is mounted on the end of. a shaft whichprojects fromits housing far enough to reach through the leg and to thetoe of the boot. That part of said shaft which extends through the legof the boot is inclosed within a tube or shield H, and the conicalnapping brush is inclosed Within a conical shield I which is attached toand supported by the tube H, and said shield I is also slotted or openalong one side to permit the napping brush to reach the surface of theboot into which it is inserted. The irregular contour of the foot causesit to fit the shield I rathertghtly, and I have found it convenient tocause the shield I to revolve Within the boot and thus perm-it the brushWires to successively reach all parts of the interior surface during therevolution of the shield. This revolution of the shield may beaccomplished by providing the tube H with proper bearings on the frame Aor on the shaft Which carries the napper C, and providing said tube witha pulley L, or other proper means Whereby it may be caused to revolveautomatically. In napping the foot therefore, it is only necessary forthe attendant to put the boot on the napper C and hold it there duringone revolution of the tube I-I.

It is desirable to be able to revolve the napping brushes in eitherdirection, because long continued action in one direction Willcorrespondingly Wear the points of the napping Wires until theirefficiency Will lbe impaired. By causing them to rotate for a time inone direction and then for a time in the other direction, the pointswill be retained in effective condition. I therefore provide the nap.-per shafts with rollers F, F, G the rollers F, F, being loose'rollers.Upon one a straight belt is placed and a cross belt upon the other andeither one of said belts may be placed on the fast pulley G.

It is desirable sometimes to leave un napped p a part of the interior ofthe boot leg Where'on the size or other marks may be placed, as it isundesirable to place such marks on the outside surface. Such portion ofthe surface may be protected from the action of the napper by means of aloose ring M, onthe shield D, said ring being moved to such position asrequired. In Fig. l theband N indicates the unnapped portion inside theleg, left for the above mentioned marks, which are always put onimmediately after the boot has been removed from the tree.

If desired the shafts of one or both thefpressure rollers E, E may beprovided With pulley P and belted so that they may act as feed rollersas Well as pressure rollers.

Power to propel the mechanism may be taken from a line shaft in theusual Way.

AHaving described my invention, I claim- 1. In a machine for napping theinside of a boot, a revolving napping brush, and a revolving shield toinclose said brush at all points except along one side whereby duringthe revolution of said shield the brush Will act upon all parts of theinterior surface, as set forth.

2. In a machine for napping the interior of a boot or shoe, a revolvingnapping brush, bearings at one end of the same for supporting it andpermitting its rotation, a frame carrying said bearings, means foractuating the brush, and a shield inclosing the brush, carried by asuitable support such asthe said frame, and having a slot or openingthrough which the brush may operate, whereby the boot may be drawn overthe brush and shield and be supported While its interior is napped,substantially as set forth.

3. In a napping machine the helical core K having its supportingsurfaces parallel with the axis of t-he core, and a strip of nappingWire clothing Wound and supported upon said surfaces to constitute` aconical napping brush,` substantially as set forth.

A. In a napping machine, a revolving nap#` ping brush, a shield to coverthe brush, having along one side a longitudinal opening and a movablering Mto cover the opening in said shield at any point desired,substantially as set forth.

5. In a napping machine a conical napping brush C, a shield I open alongone side, a sleeve or tube H to carry said shield and a pulley L on saidtube whereby said tube may be belted and caused to revolve independentlyof the other moving parts, for the purpose set forth. Y

CHARLES H. WOODBURY. In presence of R. D. O-. SMITH, AUG. HOERSTMANN.

